Business, Economics, Sustainability, Leadership and Innovation

Development of Technology-Oriented Small and Medium Enterprises in South American Market

Polina Horodetska — 2024-12-23

This study critically examines the relevance and dynamics of the South American market for technology-oriented Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). With an ever-expanding global economy, understanding the peculiarities of regional markets is highly important for businesses aiming to thrive and innovate. Through a blend of literature review and market analysis, this research investigates the unique challenges and opportunities inherent in the South American landscape for SMEs in the technology sector. Employing a comprehensive mixed-methods approach, the study focuses on the regulatory frameworks, market entry strategies, and growth trajectories shaping the SMEs in this dynamic region. The implications of these findings extend to policy-makers, entrepreneurs, and investors, offering actionable insights for driving innovation, fostering entrepreneurship, and facilitating sustainable growth in the technology sector across South America. Ultimately, this study contributes valuable insights and practical recommendations to the existing literature, empowering stakeholders to capitalize on the region’s economic potential and contribute to the advancement of the technology ecosystem in South America.

Integrated Assessment of the Level of Socio-Economic Security of Food Industry Enterprises

Andrii Kibalnikov — 2024-12-23

This article presents a comprehensive study of the level of socio-economic security of food industry enterprises in Ukraine over the period 2020–2024. Based on an in-depth analysis of academic literature, official statistics, and practical challenges of wartime management, the author proposes a methodology for integral assessment of enterprise security that combines financial, social, and production-related factors. The core indicators include: the share of unprofitable enterprises in the industry, the average monthly wages of employees, and the industrial production index in the food sector. The methodological foundation relies on min-max normalization and integral index calculation using equal-weight aggregation.
Using statistical data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine along with expert estimations, the article outlines the dynamics of the security index over five years. It was revealed that in 2022, the integral index reached a critically low level (0.167), driven by the destructive consequences of full-scale war, including a sharp rise in the number of unprofitable enterprises and a significant decline in production volumes. However, the period of 2023–2024 demonstrated a clear positive trend: a reduction in enterprise losses, rising wages, and recovery in industrial output. The integral index in 2024 rose to 0.978, indicating substantial sectoral resilience and the ability to adapt to exogenous shocks.
The study proves the effectiveness of the proposed method as a quantitative tool for monitoring enterprise security and supporting decisions in public policy, strategic planning, risk management, and investment evaluation. The article emphasizes the importance of integrating social indicators into security monitoring frameworks, particularly in crisis and post-crisis contexts. The developed model has both scientific and practical significance, making it applicable at both macroeconomic and enterprise levels.

Economics and Politics of Ukrainian War Refugees’ Hosting in Poland

Anastasiia Skorohod — 2024-12-23

Following full-scale Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Union initiated the Temporary Protection Directive, granting war refugees immediate access to basic rights in all member states. Under the Directive, Poland has amended its national law and provided our refugees with shelter and immediate access to the local labor market. Since then, for almost three years, about one million Ukrainian refugees (mainly women and children) have been staying in Poland. As per Article 4 of the Directive, the duration of temporary protection cannot exceed three years. This implies that the current regime will be terminated on 4 March 2025.

As a means to speculate about the future evolution of Ukrainian-Polish relations in general, and in the sphere of the refugee problem in particular, this article focuses on the cost-benefit analyses of refugees’ hosting in Poland. For this purpose, the research is based on an interdisciplinary approach, combining a review of the legal framework and data collection with policy and economic analysis. The article is structured as follows: after a brief review of recent publications on the theoretical aspects of the problems of refugees and practical issues of Ukrainian refugees’ hosting in Poland, the legal regime enabling our citizens to stay in Poland is explored. The next section presents a description of specific features of Ukrainian war refugees, preceding an analysis of the expenses of the Polish authorities on granting shelter. The final section offers insights into the cost-benefit analysis of hosting refugees (migrants) in different countries.

Theory of Sustainable Change in Education: Leadership Perspectives

Laura E. Hurtienne — 2024-12-23

A variety of change models are used in business and education, yet there seems to be a gap in models constructed specifically to attend to the nuances of educational change. This study investigated change in the K-12 education system. Data were collected from 12 participants who were in leadership positions for at least 5 years. Three themes (and 10 subthemes) emerged: fostering a culture of trusting relationships, barriers to educational change, and common ground for sustainable change. The data led to the development of the theory of sustainable change in education: leadership perspectives. This article aims to provide an overview of the theory.

Ukrainian-Russian Peace Negotiations: Hybrid Conflict Resolution and Its Economic Aspects

Sergei Vakarin — 2024-12-23

The ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war involves the use of hybrid warfare, including economic and other elements. Each party has its own strategy for utilizing all these elements. The strategy, however, may change depending on current needs and performance indicators. The international community is trying to persuade the conflict parties to agree on an armistice or at least long-term cessation of hostilities. However, conventional diplomacy has resulted in limited progress. There is a number of ideological, social and other factors that may be treated by a conflict party as sufficient reasons to continue the war. So far no peacemaker managed to formulate any reasons to end the war that would seem more convincing to both parties simultaneously than the reasons to continue it.

The article explores alternative conflict resolution approaches. The author analyzes and evaluates the tasks, actions and challenges faced by a country in modern peace negotiations with Ukraine as a case study. Recommendations are given to the negotiators. These recommendations are intended to help them conduct effective negotiations, understand the other conflicting party and come to an agreement on a basis of bargaining, so that both parties receive some benefit simultaneously (“win-win” scenario), foregoing zero-sum approaches.

Improvement of Strategic Planning of International Economic Activity

Evhenii Lypai — 2024-12-23

The article examines methods and approaches to improving strategic planning in international economic activity. Key aspects affecting the effectiveness of strategic management are revealed, including the impact of globalization, digitalization, and growing competition. The main issues of strategic planning, such as the uncertainty of the external environment and the instability of international markets, are outlined. Based on the analysis, a set of recommendations is proposed to enhance the adaptability and competitiveness of enterprises through the implementation of innovative approaches, data analysis, and forecasting.

Institutional Framework for Water Management System Resilience in Ukraine

Mykhailo Khvesyk — 2024-12-23

The article is devoted to the study of the institutional environment of water use in Ukraine in order to increase the resilience of the water sector in the face of growing external risks and threats. The role and interaction of formal and informal institutions that regulate access, distribution and use of water are analyses, identifying key obstacles and opportunities for increasing the adaptability of the water management system.

The necessity of applying a comprehensive approach to the rethinking and adaptation of the institutional framework, including legislative, political and managerial mechanisms, is proved. The crucial role of both formal and informal institutions in shaping the sustainability of the water sector is substantiated, arguing that an effective institutional environment should balance the economic interests of users, minimize transaction costs and prevent water depletion.

The article identifies key external and internal factors in the formation of the institutional framework of the water sector and provides scientifically based recommendations for improving the institutional framework to increase the stability, adaptability and transformability of the water sector of Ukraine. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of integrated water resources management as a fundamental institution that balances the interests of different water users.

The advantages of an integrated approach, including the use of scientific data, coordination of sectoral policies, involvement of communities and stakeholders, and the ability to adapt management practices to changing conditions, are explored. It is proved that the success of the institutional reform process depends on the implementation of innovative solutions that counteract current challenges and threats, while ensuring sustainable development and effective adaptive integrated water resources management.

The article considers the directions of improvement of institutional support for water use aimed at increasing the sustainability, adaptability and transformability of the water sector of Ukraine in the context of climate change, military threats and other challenges of our time. A set of scientifically based recommendations for reforming both formal and informal institutions, developing mechanisms for interagency coordination, stakeholder engagement and the introduction of innovative technologies that will help strengthen the resilience of the water sector is proposed.